Five Questions with Spencer Levin
May 21, 2012
by Spencer Sorensen
The Sacramento native and Elk Grove resident is in his fourth full season on the PGA Tour. Still searching for his first PGA Tour win, Levin has had a couple close calls in both 2011 and 2012. Earlier this year Levin lead the Phoenix Waste Management Open for a majority of the event before fading on Sunday to finish alone in third. In 2011, Levin tied for the low 72-hole score at the Mayakoba Classic before falling in a sudden-death playoff to eventual champion Johnson Wagner.
Prior to becoming a regular on the PGA Tour, Levin was one of Northern California’s top amateurs. In 2004, he set an NCGA points record of 2,770 points to earn the NCGA Player of the Year award. The year was highlighted by earning low amateur honors at the U.S. Open (T13), becoming the California State Amateur champion and winning the 101st NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship. Levin caught up with the NCGA for a few moments during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Spencer Levin set the NCGA points record for Player of the Year in 2004.
What goals have you set for the 2012 PGA Tour season?
I really haven’t set any goals. I’m just trying to practice and improve a little bit more every day on what I’m doing.
How is it playing a tour event, like the AT&T Pro-Am here in Northern California? Do you feel more comfortable or more pressure?
Neither. It feels just like any other tournament. It’s nice to play these courses though because they’re so pretty, and my friends can come out, which is cool. But I don’t feel more pressure and at the same time I don’t feel any more comfortable.
What do you remember about your NCGA record setting year for points in 2004?
Yeah, that summer I was playing great and I played really well at the U.S. Open. I don’t remember anything too specific, I just remember I was playing with a lot of confidence and I felt I had a chance to win every [NCGA] event.
What advice do you have for top amateurs aspiring to turn professional?
I would tell them that they really don’t have to change what they’re doing in order to get there. You know, it takes longer for some guys to get there than others, but if you have the talent and the game, it will shake out in the end. I would tell them not to change what they’re doing, do what got them there in the first place.
What’s your favorite golf course in Northern California?
Probably Pebble Beach because it’s Pebble Beach; it’s awesome.